One of the greatest things about coming to a new country is immersing yourself in the day-to-day life and learning to adjust to it. I love watching the people on the train with me, sweating on the Metro with me, and who talk to me, showing comprehension of the jumbled words spilling out of my mouth. The gentleman at the cell phone strore was very patient with my inquiries about phones, and even helped me with my grammar. I accidentally said, "Ho scegliato questo" (I've chosen this one) and he very calmly said "scelto", as in I should've said, "Ho scelto questo." The little guy residing in my head threw on the DUHmeter, and I smiled while correcting myself. He patted me on the shoulder and said, "You're doing fine." I know this probably doesn't make much sense or seem that important to many of you, but it's so rewarding to be able to go somewhere and figure out that you have started to breakdown the language barrier that bars communication on a simple level, and espeicially that people are willing to help me as I make progress. I guess I'm just really surprised that I'm not dreading heading out in public, and suffering from headaches at the end of the day from working so hard to understand what just the shopkeeper was asking me.

Anywho, I have my cell phone now... Yesterday I tried calling Emily in Switzerland, but the number didn't go through. So I think, "Hmmm, maybe it's the phone...but it should be working fine. I'll call Mom and leave a message on the machine since it's only 2 o'clock there...she'll be so excited to have a message from me when she gets home from work." So I dial the number and it goes through, "Hello?"
I think, "Huh, why is Mom answering the phone? Maybe she took the day off? Nah, I'm an idiot and dialed the wrong number."
I say, "Uhhhhhhhhh....I think I dialed the wrong number."
Mom says, "Okay, goodbye" in her normal cheery voice. I realize at that moment that I doofed the time change, it totally makes sense for her to be home from school, and I did dial the right number, and that is definitely her voice.
"Wait...Mom?!?"
"click..........(dial tone.)"
So yeah, that was me last night, Mom. Hi from Italy!!!

P.S. Yesterday it occurred to me just how many suits, like, businessmen, fly around this city at mach 10 on mopeds--it's awesome!